A34: Accidents

Lord Berkeley: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many serious road accidents have occurred on the A34 between the M3 and M40 connections; how many people have been killed or seriously injured; and what is the estimated cost of these accidents in terms of delays and human life.

Lord Davies of Oldham: There were 82 serious or fatal road accidents on the A34 during the three-year period from 1 January 2002 to 31 December 2004, resulting in 19 deaths and 90 serious injuries. It is estimated that the cost of these accidents in terms of delays was £1,200,000 and the estimated cost due to injury and loss of life was £40,300,000.

Academic Freedom

Lord Patten: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is their definition of academic freedom.

Lord Adonis: The Government employ the following definition of academic freedom within the Model Articles of Government "academic staff have freedom within the law to question and test received wisdom, and to put forward new ideas and controversial or unpopular opinions, without placing themselves in jeopardy or losing their jobs or any privileges they may have at the University/College". We expect all higher education institutions to include such a provision protecting academic freedom in their governing documents.

Aircraft Seat Spacing and Dimensions

Baroness Wilcox: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What arrangements are being made to require greater seat space in United Kingdom-registered passenger aircraft in the light of the July 2001 Civil Aviation Authority-funded research which showed that, applying the criteria that informed the original Airworthiness Notice 64 to the increased stature of the general population, the present minimum seat space no longer fits people in the top 22 percentiles.

Lord Davies of Oldham: Safety requirements for seat spacing are designed to ensure that passengers can evacuate quickly and safely in the event of an emergency.
	Since 28 September 2003, the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has been responsible for setting design standards for all aircraft registered within the European Union. These design standards include those required for emergency evacuation. At the time EASA took over its responsibilities, the UK had the only minimum seat spacing requirements in Europe.
	The research published in 2001 was carried out on behalf of the Joint Aviation Authorities (JAA). The JAA Cabin Safety Steering Group, on which the UK Civil Aviation Authority was a leading member, considered the research and recommended that EASA include in its rule-making programme consideration of the research in order to define a European minimum seat spacing requirement.
	We understand that EASA plans to issue proposals based on that research for a minimum seat space standard by the second quarter of 2006, with an intended adoption date of the fourth quarter of 2007.

Aircraft: Seat Dimensions

Baroness Wilcox: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What has been done to fulfil the commitment in Command Paper 5068 of February 2001, responding to the fifth Report of the Select Committee on Science and Technology, Air Travel and Health (Session 1999–2000, HL Paper 121), that in the light of research, consideration would be given to the scope for developing unambiguous definitions of seat dimensions for use in informing passengers of the seat size and space availability on a flight.

Lord Davies of Oldham: In June 2002, a set of definitions was agreed with the British Air Transport Association and circulated to UK airlines. The definitions, which many airlines now use, provide passengers with a consistent and straightforward basis on which to make comparisons when terms such as "seat pitch" and "seat width" are used. The agreed definitions were:
	a. Seat pitch, the horizontal distance between corresponding points on successive rows of identical seats. Most reliably measured from a position on the seat legs.
	b. Seat width (hip space), the minimum horizontal distance between the inside edges of the armrests.
	c. Seat width (elbow space), the minimum horizontal distance between the centre points of the armrests.

Aircraft: Emergency Evacuation

Baroness Wilcox: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they are satisfied that the time limit for emergency evacuation of United Kingdom-registered passenger aircraft can continue to be met.

Lord Davies of Oldham: Yes. At the time of their initial certification, UK registered aircraft types must demonstrate, among other requirements, that the prescribed time limit for emergency evacuation can be met. Any changes from the initial certificated design configuration must also be evaluated to ensure the time limit can continue to be met.

Armed Forces Compensation Scheme

Lord Morris of Manchester: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will advise claimants under the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme on the uses of personal injury trusts and their establishment.

Lord Drayson: The Ministry of Defence is not qualified to provide individuals with financial advice. However, where an award for injury or illness is made under the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme, the letter of notification explains the implications of capital sums for income-related state benefits, the possible advantages of placing injury awards in trust, and advises that the individual can obtain further advice from the Department for Work and Pensions or an independent adviser.

Armed Forces Compensation Scheme

Lord Morris of Manchester: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How they propose to clarify remaining uncertainties about the operation of the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme; and how they will ensure that current claimants are not adversely affected by the development of policy.

Lord Drayson: The Armed Forces Compensation Scheme rules have been published in The Armed Forces and Reserve Forces (Compensation Scheme) Order 2005 (No. 439). These are explained in simpler terms in a booklet issued for all serving personnel. Work is currently under way to complete guidance on the application of the rules for staff operating the scheme. The Ministry of Defence will also be revising details of the scheme to cover points that were not fully addressed in the original rules (such as the fact we would not expect there to be appeal rights for temporary awards). As with any new scheme, occasional amendments are likely to be needed, to reflect wider legislative changes or as practical experience reveals unforeseen circumstances which need to be addressed. Claimants will be advised of developments, in so far as they affect them. Where significant changes are proposed, the departments will provide key interested parties, including ex-service organisations, with an opportunity to comment. We have no plans for changes which would affect the basic principles of the scheme.

Crossrail

Lord Berkeley: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Why they are promoting in the Crossrail Bill compulsory purchase powers over properties situated in conservation areas, that are to be demolished for Crossrail stations, when no plans for their replacement have been brought forward.

Lord Davies of Oldham: The Crossrail Bill seeks only those powers necessary for the construction and operation of the railway. The Bill provides powers to demolish buildings but does not provide for their replacement; any replacement development will be brought forward under the normal planning regime. The environmental impacts of the project have been assessed on that basis.
	The Secretary of State has indicated in the Crossrail environmental statement that he would be willing to enter into an undertaking in relation to bringing forward such development. The terms of such an undertaking are currently under discussion with local authorities and other relevant stakeholders such as English Heritage.

Crossrail

Lord Berkeley: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is the maximum number of Crossrail trains per hour envisaged by the environmental impact assessment and the resulting environmental statement; whether this differs from the maximum number of Crossrail trains per hour provided for by the Crossrail Bill; and, if so, why.

Lord Davies of Oldham: The Crossrail environmental statement assumes a peak frequency of 24 trains per hour, in each direction, in the central section between Whitechapel and Paddington. The Bill does not specify a maximum number of principal Crossrail passenger service trains to which the use of powers in the Bill could apply. The Bill enables the Secretary of State to specify a minimum number of principal Crossrail passenger service trains. If the Secretary of State exercised this power he would do so taking account of all of his relevant rail and other policies, not simply the interests of Crossrail services in isolation.

Cruise Ships: Customs and Immigration facilities at Southampton

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the customs and immigration facilities of cruise ships at Southampton meet international standards; and, if not, what plans they have to impose them.

Lord McKenzie of Luton: Customs have approved the cruise liner facilities currently made available for their use at Southampton. These facilities meet the standards required by European Union and UK national legislation.
	Immigration clearance of cruise ships is normally conducted in accordance with special procedures, which do not normally involve shore controls, however, controls can be established onshore whenever there is a specific identifiable need. The facilities meet those required under paragraph 26 of Schedule 2 to the Immigration Act 1971.

Defence Budgets

Lord Astor of Hever: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What steps they take to collect and collate, on a like-for-like basis, information about the defence budgets and expenditure levels of the member states of the European Union and NATO.

Lord Drayson: The Ministry of Defence collects and analyses information about the defence budgets and expenditure levels of the member states of the European Union and NATO but we do not devote resources to the complex task of making like for like comparisons. We normally refer to comparisons made by NATO and non-governmental bodies such as the International Institute of Strategic Studies which carry out this type of work.

Defence Budgets

Lord Astor of Hever: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What are the principal points of difference, in respect of items included and excluded, between the published defence budgets of the United Kingdom, France, the United States and Germany.

Lord Drayson: Although the United Kingdom maintains an interest in the defence budgets of allies, the UK does not routinely carry out comparative analysis between the UK defence budget and the equivalent budgets of France, the United States and Germany because of differences in methodology.

Defence Budgets

Lord Astor of Hever: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What proportion the United Kingdom, France and Germany collectively contribute to defence-related expenditure on the part of the European Union; and what these contributions amount to in monetary terms in recent years; in the current financial year; and prospectively.

Lord Drayson: The EU does not have a defence budget. The majority of costs for EU-led military missions are met by the sending member state. However, member states have set up a mechanism to channel their national contributions towards a limited number of identified "common costs" for individual EU-led military missions. Under this mechanism, the UK, France and Germany combined pay 56.41 per cent of the total common costs. These are divided between member states according to a key based on each state's GNP. In monetary terms, the UK's contribution to the three military missions to date—CONCORDIA (Macedonia), ALTHEA (Bosnia) and ARTEMIS (Congo)—has been £11.850 million.
	The prospective costs, for the current financial year, 2005–06, cover the continuation of the UK's contribution to Operation ALTHEA and the support for AU Mission in Sudan, currently estimated at £7.617 million in total.

Defence Budgets

Lord Astor of Hever: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What adjustments are required to identify United Kingdom contributions to collective European Union defence-related expenditure on a calendar year basis rather than by reference to United Kingdom financial years of public expenditure.

Lord Drayson: The European Union does not have a collective defence-related budget. Such funding is disbursed as and when it is required within the relevant UK financial year and therefore no adjustment is necessary to identify UK contributions.

Drug Seizures

Lord Taylor of Warwick: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What steps they will take to improve the level of seizures of illegal drugs, currently estimated at only 25 per cent of illegal drugs in circulation.

Lord McKenzie of Luton: The updated drug strategy 2002 sets out HMG's approach to tackling drugs in the UK. Responsibility for driving forward the supply side activity rests with those law enforcement agencies and other bodies engaged in tackling drug supply, working together as the Concerted Inter-Agency Drug Action Group (CIDA).
	CIDA agencies recently agreed a new delivery strategy, which aims to improve our performance and to achieve a sustained impact on the availability of Class A drugs in our communities, thereby reducing the harm that drugs cause. It broadly covers four areas:
	Harm reduction in UK Communities: measuring the impact of supply side activity in terms of the outcomes in UK communities.
	Intelligence process: adopting an intelligence led process to target activity more effectively.
	Zonal Linkages: prioritising efforts across and within geographical "zones" of action, trying to maximise our impact.
	Street Level Up: testing a new approach of tracing the supply chain back from street level problems (called "street level up"), and then hitting it in a co-ordinated way.
	Current CIDA Activity
	CIDA is supporting new projects to tackle the flow of illegal drugs, including:
	The joint Metropolitan Police and HM Customs and Excise's Middle Market Project, which will concentrate law enforcement effort on the middle market, which is the link between street level dealers and drug traffickers, within the M25; and four "street level up" pilot projects, where CIDA agencies will aim to build the intelligence picture of those supplying drugs within a set area from street level dealer to importer (and further upstream).
	Ultimately the whole supply chain will be tackled.

European Court of Auditors and European Anti-Fraud Office

Lord Hylton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether there is an overlap of responsibilities and possible conflict between the European Court of Auditors and OLAF, the European Anti-Fraud Office; and how this may be avoided.

Lord McKenzie of Luton: The European Court of Auditors (ECA) performs an audit function, whereas the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) carries out investigations. The ECA is responsible for checking that the EU budget is correctly implemented—namely that EU income and expenditure is legal and above board and to ensure sound financial management. It submits an annual audit report to the Council and European Parliament. OLAF is responsible for protecting the financial interests of the EU by fighting fraud, corruption and any other irregular activity, including misconduct within the EU institutions. The ECA does not investigate cases of suspected fraud. If during an audit the ECA uncovers something which it suspected might be fraud, it would pass this to OLAF and/or the member state's investigative authorities to deal with (for example see page 125 of the report on the 2003 EC Budget).

Firefighters: Assaults

Lord Northbourne: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	On how many occasions in the past year for which figures are available a minor attacked firemen while they were putting out a fire in the course of their duties.

Baroness Andrews: The table below provides the number of attacks on firefighters reported to the Government for 2004–05. A breakdown by age of the alleged assailants is not known.
	
		
			 Fire and Rescue Service Number of reported assaults 2004–05 
			 Buckinghamshire 1 
			 Cheshire 23 
			 Cleveland 54 
			 Cumbria 2 
			 Dorset 1 
			 Greater Manchester 188 
			 Hampshire 6 
			 Isle of Wight 1 
			 Kent 10 
			 Lancashire 6 
			 Lincolnshire 1 
			 Merseyside 135 
			 Mid and West Wales 5 
			 Norfolk 1 
			 Nottinghamshire 33 
			 South Wales 37 
			 South Yorkshire 20 
			 Staffordshire 1 
			 Tyne and Wear 2 
			 West Midlands 106 
			 Total 633 
		
	
	The Government are very concerned to tackle assaults on public sector workers which are particularly damaging to society. The Fire and Rescue Services Act 2004 makes it an offence to obstruct or interfere with an employee of a fire and rescue authority when they are carrying out their duties. In addition there is a hierarchy of offences against the person where injury results. Sentencing guidelines make it clear that any attack committed against anyone working in the public sector can be considered an aggravating factor that a court must take into account when considering the sentence to impose.
	Any assault on firefighters is unacceptable. It is important that such incidents are reported and that the fire and rescue authorities collaborate with the police so that offenders are prosecuted and punished appropriately.

Hepatitis C and HIV Inadvertent Blood Infection: Payment Schemes

Lord Morris of Manchester: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether in hardship cases they will remove the cut-off date for applications for payments from the Skipton fund for patients infected with hepatitis C as a result of National Health Service treatment with blood or blood products.

Lord Warner: The hepatitis C ex-gratia payment scheme has been designed to alleviate the suffering of those people living with the hepatitis C virus. We have no plans to amend the eligibility criteria to take account of individual cases.

High Hedges

Lord Greaves: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What fees are being charged by each local authority for dealing with complaints about high hedges under Part 8 of the Anti-social Behaviour Act 2003.

Baroness Andrews: This information is not collected centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Of the sample local authorities that have provided information to the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, the majority are setting fees within a range of £300–£400.

House of Lords: Carbon Emissions

Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer: asked the Chairman of Committees:
	What estimate can be made of the carbon emissions from the aviation miles accrued by Members of the House and staff on official visits and exchanges.

Lord Brabazon of Tara: Records of official visits and exchanges do not include details of mileage, route, or mode of transport used. I am therefore unable to make any meaningful estimate of the information requested.

Illegal Immigrants: Cost to Public Funds

Lord Tebbit: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What their estimate is of the annual cost to public funds of the 375,000 to 500,000 illegal immigrants they estimate to be in Britain; and what would be the capital costs of the provision of housing, schools, transport, health and water services for those persons.

Lord McKenzie of Luton: The report Sizing the Unauthorised (Illegal) Migrant Population in the UK in 2001 estimates that there were between 310,000 and 570,000 illegal migrants living in the UK in April 2001. The Government do not have an estimate of the contribution of illegal migrants to the economy nor of their potential use of and cost to public services.

Knife Crime

Lord Maginnis of Drumglass: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether there is a knife culture in England, Scotland or Wales; and, in each year from 2000 to 2004: (a) how many murders or injuries have been the result of a knife attack; (b) how many people have been charged with serious crime involving a knife; and (c) how many people have been charged with possession of a knife with intent.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: The Government have introduced new measures in the Violent Crime Reduction Bill published on 8 June 2005, to deter the carrying of knives. The available information relating to homicides caused by a sharp instrument was published in table 1.03 of Home Office Statistical Bulletin 02/05, Crime in England and Wales 2003/2004: Supplementary Volume 1: Homicide and Gun Crime. This can be found on the internet at www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/index.htm. It is not possible from the Home Office court proceedings database to identify whether a violent crime (violence against the person, sexual offence or robbery) involved a knife (unless it is specified in the statute) as the individual circumstances of the offence are not collected. The available information is provided in the following table. It gives the number of defendants proceeded against at magistrates' courts and found guilty at all courts for "having an article with a blade or point in a public place", England and Wales 2000 to 2003. These data are on the principal offence basis. Information relating to Scotland is a matter for Ministers in the Scottish Parliament.
	
		Number of defendants proceeded against a magistrates court and found guilty at all courts under the Criminal Justice Act 1955, Section 139 1 , England and Wales 2000–03
		
			 Offencedescription Statute Year Proceededagainst Foundguilty 
			 Having an article with blade or point in public place Criminal Justice Act 1988, Section 139 as amended by Offensive Weapons Act 1996, Section 3
			   2000 4,616 3,511 
			   2001 5,752 4,299 
			   2002 6,889 5,281 
			   2003 6,839 5,308 
			 Having an article with blade or point on school premises 2  Criminal Justice Act 1988, Section 139A (1)(5)(a) added by Offensive Weapons 
			 Act1996, Section 4(1)
			   2000 19 17 
			   2001 25 23 
			   2002 22 19 
			   2003 25 29 
		
	
	1 These data are on the principle offence basis.
	2 Data excludes prosecutions and convictions for West Mercia PFA, until clarification of theses cases is obtained.

Liquid Natural Gas

Lord Crickhowell: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the Department of Trade and Industry has had any discussions with the devolved administrations, planning authorities, government agencies or commercial companies about the desirability of constructing liquid natural gas terminals in the United Kingdom and about the related safety considerations.

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: The Energy White Paper of 2003 set out the Government's view that the expansion of the LNG market is to be welcomed as a contribution to diversity and security, and as a source of competition to piped gas. Where appropriate, the department's energy markets unit has drawn the attention of external bodies—including the devolved administration in Wales, other government bodies, and commercial companies—to this statement. The department has not expressed views on the safety implications of particular proposed projects, which are subject to regulatory control by relevant planning authorities and the Health and Safety Executive

McKinsey and Co.

Lord Hanningfield: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the United Kingdom-based operation of McKinsey and Company Incorporated is currently carrying out work for any executive non-departmental public body or advisory non-departmental public body sponsored by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister; and, if so (a) how many projects the firm has carried out for each of those bodies in the past five years; (b) for each project, how long such work lasted and how many McKinsey employees were involved; (c) what was the nature of the contracts with each of the bodies; and (d) what was the total value of payments made by each such body to the company in each of the past five years.

Baroness Andrews: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister was formed in May 2002. None of the executive non-departmental public bodies or advisory non-departmental public bodies sponsored by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister have awarded any contracts or placed any orders with McKinsey and Company Incorporated.

McKinsey and Co.

Lord Hanningfield: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the United Kingdom-based operation of McKinsey and Company Incorporated has carried out any work for the Department of Transport, Local Government and the Regions during its existence; and, if so (a) how many projects the firm has carried out for the department during its existence; (b) for each project, how long such work lasted, and how many McKinsey employees were involved; (c) what was the nature of the contracts with the department; and (d) what was the total value of payments made by the department to the company.

Baroness Andrews: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister was formed in May 2002. Information on contracts placed by the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions is not held centrally and can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Motor Vehicles

Baroness Byford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many United Kingdom vehicles were recorded in each weight class for each year from 1984.

Lord Davies of Oldham: The number of vehicles in Great Britain by body type for each year since 1984 is as follows.
	
		Motor vehicles licensed at end of year: by body type: 1984–2004
		
			 Year Cars Taxis 1 Motor cycles Three wheelers Light goods Buses and coaches Agricultural vehicles etc 2 Other vehicles 3 All  
			 1984 16,399,000 25,000 1,343,000 71,000 1,560,000 637,000 149,000 345,000 234,000 20,765,000 
			 1985 16,829,000 25,000 1,262,000 62,000 1,606,000 633,000 148,000 344,000 248,000 21,157,000 
			 1986 17,389,000 26,000 1,176,000 60,000 1,670,000 634,000 149,000 340,000 256,000 21,699,000 
			 1987 17,856,000 28,000 1,086,000 57,000 1,732,000 636,000 150,000 340,000 267,000 22,152,000 
			 1988 18,888,000 29,000 1,016,000 54,000 1,863,000 671,000 155,000 341,000 286,000 23,302,000 
			 1989 19,720,000 30,000 976,000 51,000 1,956,000 674,000 156,000 334,000 298,000 24,196,000 
			 1990 20,230,000 32,000 932,000 47,000 1,994,000 658,000 157,000 328,000 297,000 24,673,000 
			 1991 20,253,000 32,000 848,000 43,000 1,961,000 624,000 154,000 309,000 287,000 24,511,000 
			 1992 20,443,684 31,938 780,397 39,561 1,950,588 599,505 153,878 297,531 280,378 24,577,460 
			 1993 20,755,000 31,992 743,566 36,484 1,942,971 586,588 153,110 294,063 282,061 24,825,872 
			 1994 21,199,204 32,287 720,922 33,799 1,951,394 574,602 153,726 284,521 280,798 25,231,252 
			 1995 21,394,180 33,242 702,493 31,129 1,948,958 555,777 153,467 282,342 267,846 25,369,432 
			 1996 22,237,544 34,337 738,759 30,332 2,000,077 554,872 157,638 286,157 262,548 26,301,928 
			 1997 22,831,696 34,926 752,357 28,332 2,054,578 555,939 160,721 285,779 269,460 26,973,792 
			 1998 23,293,332 35,797 813,784 26,572 2,104,699 551,030 161,312 284,672 267,217 27,538,416 
			 1999 23,974,936 36,720 889,364 25,712 2,167,119 564,471 168,121 287,525 253,591 28,367,560 
			 2000 24,405,548 37,882 953,737 24,398 2,204,181 583,001 172,565 287,212 229,056 28,897,580 
			 2001 25,125,868 38,739 1,009,954 22,330 2,276,452 602,524 171,618 283,872 215,774 29,747,131 
			 2002 25,781,932 39,367 1,070,022 20,519 2,342,674 625,014 172,994 291,619 212,531 30,556,672 
			 2003 26,240,404 39,485 1,134,682 19,276 2,433,780 638,962 174,691 304,038 222,042 31,207,360 
			 2004 27,028,100 40,639 1,191,168 18,314 2,580,741 663,024 177,659 321,414 237,798 32,258,856 
		
	
	1 These include only custom built black cab design vehicles.
	2 Includes various types of harvesters, works trucks, mobile cranes and mowing machines.
	3 Examples include ambulances, fire engines, road rollers, road construction vehicles, street cleansing etc.

Motor Vehicles

Baroness Byford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they keep records of overseas registered vehicles using United Kingdom roads.

Lord Davies of Oldham: No records are kept of overseas registered vehicles circulating in the UK.
	International agreements provide for foreign registered vehicles to circulate temporarily in other countries. These provisions limit visits to six months in any twelve-month period and require that the vehicle remains compliant with the registration and licensing requirements of its home country.
	If the vehicle is to remain in the UK longer than six months, it must be properly registered and licensed in accordance with domestic requirements.

Motor Vehicles

Baroness Byford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many United Kingdom heavy goods vehicles were recorded in each weight class for each year since 1984.

Lord Davies of Oldham: The information requested is as follows.
	
		
			 Over Not over 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 
			 3.5t 7.5t 146,000 147,200 151,000 155,300 162,100 169,800 166,400 
			 7.5t 12t 33,000 29,500 26,600 25,100 23,400 22,100 20,200 
			 12t 16t 46,700 42,900 39,300 36,800 34,600 32,400 29,300 
			 16t 20t 82,300 82,900 84,200 86,400 89,800 92,600 89,500 
			 20t 24t 2,000 2,000 2,100 2,500 2,800 3,100 3,400 
			 24t 28t 31,500 31,900 32,900 34,500 36,300 38,100 36,300 
			 28t 32t 19,200 19,000 19,400 20,700 22,700 24,600 22,400 
			 32t 38t 76,400 76,200 79,000 83,100 89,700 95,500 92,200 
			 38t  100 100  
			 All weights  437,100 431,700 434,600 444,400 461,600 478,000 459,700 
		
	
	
		
			 Over Not over 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 
			 3.5t 7.5t 158,100 152,218 151,600 150,399 151,001 153,485 154,137 
			 7.5t 12t 18,500 17,234 16,600 15,977 16,049 15,796 15,425 
			 12t 16t 26,100 24,382 23,600 22,754 23,167 22,268 21,579 
			 16t 20t 83,000 79,806 77,200 77,206 75,458 74,390 72,417 
			 20t 24t 3,500 3,771 4,100 4,635 5,240 6,063 6,905 
			 24t 28t 33,700 32,673 32,500 33,540 33,381 33,788 34,109 
			 28t 32t 20,400 19,538 19,600 21,570 21,322 20,884 21,464 
			 32t 38t 86,200 85,319 84,600 89,204 91,489 92,708 94,464 
			 38t200 391 721 1,216 1,915 
			 All weights  429,600 414,941 410,100 415,676 417,946 420,598 422,415 
		
	
	
		
			 Over Not over 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 
			 3.5t 7.5t 155,975 156,804 157,240 157,366 156,280 155,779 158,451 
			 7.5t 12t 14,683 14,301 13,906 13,380 12,607 12,106 11,933 
			 12t 16t 20,760 20,790 20,339 19,725 19,669 19,148 18,856 
			 16t 20t 69,826 68,352 66,319 66,263 65,910 64,951 64,971 
			 20t 24t 8,096 9,140 9,845 10,144 10,054 9,685 9,451 
			 24t 28t 34,726 36,762 37,957 39,032 40,569 42,115 44,046 
			 28t 32t 21,761 22,605 23,127 25,180 26,372 27,056 28,459 
			 32t 38t 92,076 68,864 57,362 45,594 38,056 32,731 28,601 
			 38t  3,329 25,164 39,339 53,038 63,256 69,911 77,078 
			 All Weights  421,243 422,782 425,434 429,722 432,773 433,482 441,846

Network Rail

Lord Taylor of Warwick: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Why Network Rail's borrowing does not appear anywhere in the public accounts.

Lord McKenzie of Luton: Using internationally recognised standards for producing economic accounts the independent Office for National Statistics classifies Network Rail as a private non-financial corporation from 1 April 2003. As such neither the transactions nor the liabilities of Network Rail after that date are scored in the public sector finances.

Obesity Initiatives

Earl Howe: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What progress has been made and future timelines set for obesity initiatives in the Implementation Programme of the White Paper on Public Health, including (a) the weight loss guide; (b) the Obesity Care Pathway and the Obesity Tool Kit; (c) the Directory of Training Resources; (d) the National Partnership for Obesity; (e) the Obesity Programme Board; (f) the development of a job description and management structure for health trainers; and(g) the work of the National Institute for Clinical Excellence in assessing weight loss options.

Lord Warner: Progress and future timelines on the programmes listed are as follows:
	a. Publication of the weight loss guide is expected in the autumn.
	b. Both the Obesity Care Pathway and the Obesity Tool Kit are expected to be completed by the end of the year.
	c. The Directory for Training Resources was posted on the Dieticians in Obesity Management (DOM) UK website on 25 May at www.domuk.org. There will be a link to the directory from the Department of Health's website.
	d. & e. Arrangements are in hand for the first meeting of the Obesity Programme Board by the autumn. One of its first tasks will be to reach agreements on the setting up of the National Partnership for Obesity.
	f. The approach to taking forward job descriptions for health trainers and related matters is still under consideration.
	g. The work of the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence in assessing weight loss options is on schedule for early 2007, preceded by two consultations next year.

Olympic Games 20012: Lottery

Lord Moynihan: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will contribute the tax take from the hypothecated Olympic Lottery Game to fund part of the costs of the London Olympic Games in 2012.

Lord McKenzie of Luton: The Government intend that the same principles that apply to the existing National Lottery should apply to any Olympic themed games. We have made it clear that it is not our intention to fund the 2012 Games from central government tax receipts. In its report on London's bid published on 6 June, the IOC recognised that "The budgeting process is very detailed and meticulous, and assumptions are well supported and they are achievable".

Parliamentary Estate: Telephones

Lord Jopling: asked the Chairman of Committees:
	Whether he will review the effectiveness of the maintenance of the telephone system in the Parliamentary Estate by the Parliamentary Communications Directorate; and, in view of recent delays in repairing Members' telephones, whether he will consider using an alternative contractor.

Lord Brabazon of Tara: Responsibility for the telephone system in the Parliamentary Estate is divided between the Parliamentary Communications Directorate (PCD), which takes responsibility for the cable infrastructure and for arranging moves and changes, and a contractor, Siemens, which is responsible for telecoms maintenance.
	The performance of the telecoms maintainer is monitored on a monthly basis, with clearance targets of between two and six hours, depending on the type of fault and when the fault was reported. During the year from June 2004 to May 2005 Siemens met its clearance targets for 98.24 per cent of all faults reported.
	In June this year this figure declined to 67.09 per cent This was due to an increase in the number of faults reported in the aftermath of the general election when a large number of moves and changes were required. A significant number of faults were reported to Siemens which were, in fact, the responsibility of PCD, but which were not passed on to PCD to resolve.
	PCD and Siemens have now reached an agreement to avoid a repeat of this confusion over responsibility, and to ensure that all faults are allocated and resolved promptly.
	While I regret any inconvenience which Members may have experienced in recent weeks, when long-term performance levels are taken into consideration, I do not consider that it would be appropriate to seek an alternative contractor at this time.

Railways: Level Crossings

Lord Lucas: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is the number of half barrier crossings on the high speed rail network; what risk assessment has been undertaken on this type of crossing and what were the results; whether there is a risk assessment of all crossing types on the network; and, if so, who conducted this analysis; and
	What is the total number of crossings on the high speed rail network; and how many high speed and other crossings are protected by closed circuit television; and
	How many manned crossings there are on the high speed rail network and on other railways; and
	What is the estimated cost of a closed circuit television level crossing, including labour and maintenance, per annum; and what is the equivalent operating cost of manned crossings; and
	What is the maximum number of cameras that a single circuit television level crossings operator is allowed to monitor.

Lord Davies of Oldham: Railway operators are responsible for undertaking and reviewing risk assessments for the level crossings on their networks. On the mainline network this responsibility falls to Network Rail. Network Rail will respond directly to the noble Lord on the issues he has raised.

Solvent Abuse

Lord Taylor of Warwick: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When they propose to publish their new strategy on combating solvent abuse.

Lord Warner: The Government will be publishing their framework for volatile substance abuse during summer 2005.

Tax Credits: Administration Costs

Lord Taylor of Warwick: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Why the cost of administering the working tax credit and child tax credit has risen from a cost of £143 million in 2002–03 to £403 million in 2003–04.

Lord McKenzie of Luton: The administration costs, as a proportion of total tax credits payments, fell from 3.3 per cent in 1999 to 3 per cent in 2004. And the cost of administration per family benefiting has fallen from £105 per family under the old family credit to £72 per family in 2003–04.

Teachers

Lord Stoddart of Swindon: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Adonis on 5 July (WA 84), what are the proportion of male and female teachers in all schools in (a) England and Wales; (b) Scotland; (c) Northern Ireland; and (d) the United Kingdom as a whole.

Lord Adonis: The figures showing the proportion of male and female teachers in all schools in England and Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and the United Kingdom as a whole are as follows.
	
		Proportion of full-time qualified teachers in all schools, 2003–04
		
			  Males(percentage) Females (percentage) 
			 England & Wales (provisional)   
			 All Schools 32 per cent 68 per cent 
			 Scotland   
			 All Schools 1 28 per cent 72 per cent 
			 Northern Ireland   
			 All Schools 28 per cent 72 per cent 
			 United Kingdom (provisional)   
			 All Schools 32 per cent 68 per cent 
		
	
	Source: Department for Education and Skills; Scottish Executive; Department of Education, Northern Ireland
	Notes: 1 Excludes nursery schools.

VAT: Exemptions

Lord Monson: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Which statutes or regulations entitle the Chancellor of the Exchequer to grant exemption, on a selective one-off basis, from VAT which is normally payable on transactions of goods and services.

Lord McKenzie of Luton: The rules governing exemptions from VAT are applied in UK law through the VAT Act 1994 and other legislation. In limited and specified circumstances, extra statutory concessions may also allow remission of VAT due where strict application of the law would create a disadvantage or the effect would not be the one intended.

Wind Energy

Lord Hanningfield: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Sainsbury of Turville on 21 June (WA 167), what is the nature of any existing or past contracts between Doughty Hanson or LM Glasfiber and each department or team within the Department of Trade and Industry; and in each case what was the contract's financial value.

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: The Department of Trade and Industry has no record of any current or past contracts, between Doughty Hanson or L M Glasfiber and the Department of Trade and Industry.

Wind Energy

Lord Hanningfield: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Sainsbury of Turville on 21 June (WA 167), what representation, either written or verbal, the Department of Trade and Industry has received into the future of wind energy from Doughty Hanson or LM Glasfiber, excluding the consultation on the Review of the Renewables Obligation Order 2005.

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: As far as we have been able to identify, the Department of Trade and Industry has received no representation, either written or verbal, into the future of wind energy from Doughty Hanson or LM Glasfiber.

Wind Energy

Lord Hanningfield: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	On how many occasions in the past five years the permanent secretary of the Department of Trade and Industry, or any member of the department's renewables team, has met Mr Nigel Doughty or a representative or employee of Doughty Hanson or LM Galsfiber; what matters were discussed at each meeting; and whether a minute was taken.

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: The permanent secretary of the Department of Trade and Industry has not met Mr Nigel Doughty, or a representative or employee of Doughty Hanson or L M Glasfiber, in the past five years.
	Officials from the DTI's renewables team, UK Trade & Investment's inward investment group and the British Embassy in Copenhagen met, and corresponded with, employees of LM Glasfiber in early 2004. While no meeting notes exist, the discussions centred on the possibility of siting their manufacturing facility in the UK.
	There is no record of any meetings between the renewables team and a representative or employee of Doughty Hanson.

Wind Energy

Lord Hanningfield: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Sainsbury of Turville on 21 June (WA 167), whether Mr Nigel Doughty or representatives or employees of Doughty Hanson/LM Glasfiber were among the organisations or individuals that (a) the Prime Minister, and (b) the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry have met.

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: I refer the noble Lord to my reply of 21 June, Official Report, col. WA 167.